Crowns and Garlands Summary

In this poem, famous and successful African Americans become garlands and crowns for the black American who needs sustenance. The crowns and garlands wilt before their wearer can make it to the corner; they do not last even a day. And though the names of these greats can be worn as crowns, they are not food and cannot feed their wearer.

Crowns and Garlands Analysis

Hughes draws attention in this poem to the problematic exaltation of black celebrities as indices of black progress. Though the ordinary African American may take pride in these figureheads, if they remain to poor to buy food, they are no better off than they were before the symbolic progress that these celebrities represent was made.